i'm glad! it was the first of her books i read, because i was perusing a bookstore and was surprised to see my name on the cover of anything. so i bought it, read it, cried, and healed more than i anticipated. all while reading my own name. Jack is actually one of the two i have left to read, and your list reminded me to grab it this weekend, so thank you! Robinson has a way of showering her writing with pure traits of humanity, good and bad. she will always be a favorite of mine.
I will quote you when I lead an adult ed course on Pride and Prejudice. Thanks for this list. Leaving the Atocha Station sounds like a good gift for my son.
I hated Tennyson at school. Now I think In Memoriam is one of the greatest poems ever written. There is a line in it for everyone, no matter what your mood or where you are in your life.
He’s walking across a field, despondent and lost. He hears bells from four different churches celebrating Christmas Eve - and recalls there is still something to live for.
Four voices of four hamlets round, From far and near, on mead and moor, Swell out and fail, as if a door Were shut between me and the sound:
Each voice four changes on the wind, That now dilate, and now decrease, Peace and goodwill, goodwill and peace, Peace and goodwill, to all mankind.
This year I slept and woke with pain, I almost wish'd no more to wake, And that my hold on life would break Before I heard those bells again:
But they my troubled spirit rule, For they controll'd me when a boy; They bring me sorrow touch'd with joy, The merry merry bells of Yule.
Thank you, John. 'This year I slept and woke with pain' - so powerful. May we all be open to the literal and metaphorical bells which remind us how much there is to live for!
Last month I read Lessons by Ian McEwan, book that helps in every category. I especially liked reading about the main character's aging and coming to terms with missed opportunities.
Just the Tomorrow3 for right now. First book ordered in a minute. 2 years? Moved around a lot. I'll let you know, thx. Ordered a book of poetry by @rosbarber and one of fiction by @Lisafransson. My sustack best. Along long time since I've read for pleasure and not research. Cheers
With regard to friendship, I can't resist mentioning the series of novels written by Patrick O'Brian detailing the adventures of Captain Jack Aubrey and his physician friend, Stephen Maturin, serving in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars. Readers of these books will not only receive an education in life aboard ship during the age of fighting sail, but will enjoy a lively writing style founded upon intelligence, warmth, and good humour that caused one reviewer to describe O'Brian's novels as "Jane Austen at sea".
The Jane Austen comparison comes from a review of O’Brian’s novels by critic Richard Snow in a 1991 issue of TIME magazine. Snow wrote, “If Jane Austen had written rousing sea yarns, she would have produced something very close to the prose of Patrick O’Brian.” You might also want to check out an article in the online journal of the Jane Austen Society of North America (JASNA) titled, “Did Willoughby Join the Navy? Patrick O’Brian’s Thirty-Year Homage to Jane Austen” by James R. Simmons, Jr., Associate Professor of English at Louisiana Tech University. If I were more tech savvy, I’d give you a link to the article, but you should be able to find it by doing a search for “Did Willoughby Join the Navy?”
Some years ago, there was a film version made of two of O’Brian’s novels called, “Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World”, with Russell Crowe as Jack Aubrey and Paul Bettany as Stephen Maturin. From the point of view of historical accuracy, the film was great, but Russell Crowe and Paul Bettany were only the palest of pale imitations of the characters in O’Brian’s novels. Myself, I always liked to imagine a young Stephen Fry as Jack Aubrey and Hugh Laurie as Stephen Maturin.
The problem O’Brian’s twenty Aubrey/Maturin novels may present for some readers is the amount of technical detail he includes about the care and handling of a wooden sailing ship. I’ve read that his publishers tried, in vain, over the years to persuade him to ease up in that department, but without success. Nevertheless, Patrick O’Brian is one of the few authors—Jane Austen is another—whose works I find pleasure in re-reading.
Thank you Tom, this is amazing! I just visited Austen's house on the weekend and was reminded of her close personal connections to the sea-faring life, with two brothers in the navy. Can't wait to read this series.
Thank you, Emma, for your kind comments, and for taking the time and trouble to respond to me. Speaking of Jane Austen’s sea-faring brothers, Admiral Francis Austen lived long enough to have his daguerreotype taken in old age, allowing us to speculate on how Jane might have appeared had she lived into the dawn of photography. As for Aubrey and Maturin, their series begins with the novel, “Master and Commander”, and you may find it useful to consult one of the companion volumes that have been published in recent decades to assist readers in understanding the background to O’Brian’s stories. One such book that I’ve found helpful is, “Harbors and High Seas: An Atlas and Geographical Guide to the Complete Aubrey-Maturin Novels of Patrick O’Brian”, by Dean King with John B. Hattendorf.
I’m writing to you from Kingston, Ontario, which was the home port for the small fleet of Royal Navy vessels sailing on Lake Ontario during the War of 1812. I sometimes wish O’Brian had involved Aubrey and Maturin in some Canadian adventures during their careers at sea, but alas, they only drop anchor briefly in Halifax in the series’ seventh novel, “The Surgeon’s Mate”. In any case, good luck with Patrick O’Brian and, as Captain “Lucky Jack” Aubrey would say, “I give you joy" of reading his wonderful novels for the first time.
I'll be happy to respond to your comment as soon as I'm free, but right now it's still Monday morning on the other side of the storm-tossed North Atlantic and I'm awaiting an important phone call.
based on your list and views, i cannot recommend Lila by Marilynne Robinson to you enough. it could very well be put on this list.
Thank you so much! I was just talking with my housemates last night about the genius of Marilynne Robinson. I haven't read Lila and can't wait.
i'm glad! it was the first of her books i read, because i was perusing a bookstore and was surprised to see my name on the cover of anything. so i bought it, read it, cried, and healed more than i anticipated. all while reading my own name. Jack is actually one of the two i have left to read, and your list reminded me to grab it this weekend, so thank you! Robinson has a way of showering her writing with pure traits of humanity, good and bad. she will always be a favorite of mine.
I will quote you when I lead an adult ed course on Pride and Prejudice. Thanks for this list. Leaving the Atocha Station sounds like a good gift for my son.
I hated Tennyson at school. Now I think In Memoriam is one of the greatest poems ever written. There is a line in it for everyone, no matter what your mood or where you are in your life.
So true. Do you have a favourite line or stanza? I love this part: https://allpoetry.com/CXV:-Spring
He’s walking across a field, despondent and lost. He hears bells from four different churches celebrating Christmas Eve - and recalls there is still something to live for.
Four voices of four hamlets round, From far and near, on mead and moor, Swell out and fail, as if a door Were shut between me and the sound:
Each voice four changes on the wind, That now dilate, and now decrease, Peace and goodwill, goodwill and peace, Peace and goodwill, to all mankind.
This year I slept and woke with pain, I almost wish'd no more to wake, And that my hold on life would break Before I heard those bells again:
But they my troubled spirit rule, For they controll'd me when a boy; They bring me sorrow touch'd with joy, The merry merry bells of Yule.
Thank you, John. 'This year I slept and woke with pain' - so powerful. May we all be open to the literal and metaphorical bells which remind us how much there is to live for!
This is incredible.
Your writing is superb. You can be confident in that. Thank you
Last month I read Lessons by Ian McEwan, book that helps in every category. I especially liked reading about the main character's aging and coming to terms with missed opportunities.
Lovely! I have read a fair bit of McEwan but not that one so will pick it up. I thought The Child in Time was very moving.
Just the Tomorrow3 for right now. First book ordered in a minute. 2 years? Moved around a lot. I'll let you know, thx. Ordered a book of poetry by @rosbarber and one of fiction by @Lisafransson. My sustack best. Along long time since I've read for pleasure and not research. Cheers
Wow, I'm honoured that my recommendation is one of your first books in two years. The pressure is on... hope you like it :-)
With regard to friendship, I can't resist mentioning the series of novels written by Patrick O'Brian detailing the adventures of Captain Jack Aubrey and his physician friend, Stephen Maturin, serving in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars. Readers of these books will not only receive an education in life aboard ship during the age of fighting sail, but will enjoy a lively writing style founded upon intelligence, warmth, and good humour that caused one reviewer to describe O'Brian's novels as "Jane Austen at sea".
This is so interesting! What's the name of the series? You had me at 'Austen at Sea'.
The Jane Austen comparison comes from a review of O’Brian’s novels by critic Richard Snow in a 1991 issue of TIME magazine. Snow wrote, “If Jane Austen had written rousing sea yarns, she would have produced something very close to the prose of Patrick O’Brian.” You might also want to check out an article in the online journal of the Jane Austen Society of North America (JASNA) titled, “Did Willoughby Join the Navy? Patrick O’Brian’s Thirty-Year Homage to Jane Austen” by James R. Simmons, Jr., Associate Professor of English at Louisiana Tech University. If I were more tech savvy, I’d give you a link to the article, but you should be able to find it by doing a search for “Did Willoughby Join the Navy?”
Some years ago, there was a film version made of two of O’Brian’s novels called, “Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World”, with Russell Crowe as Jack Aubrey and Paul Bettany as Stephen Maturin. From the point of view of historical accuracy, the film was great, but Russell Crowe and Paul Bettany were only the palest of pale imitations of the characters in O’Brian’s novels. Myself, I always liked to imagine a young Stephen Fry as Jack Aubrey and Hugh Laurie as Stephen Maturin.
The problem O’Brian’s twenty Aubrey/Maturin novels may present for some readers is the amount of technical detail he includes about the care and handling of a wooden sailing ship. I’ve read that his publishers tried, in vain, over the years to persuade him to ease up in that department, but without success. Nevertheless, Patrick O’Brian is one of the few authors—Jane Austen is another—whose works I find pleasure in re-reading.
Thank you Tom, this is amazing! I just visited Austen's house on the weekend and was reminded of her close personal connections to the sea-faring life, with two brothers in the navy. Can't wait to read this series.
Thank you, Emma, for your kind comments, and for taking the time and trouble to respond to me. Speaking of Jane Austen’s sea-faring brothers, Admiral Francis Austen lived long enough to have his daguerreotype taken in old age, allowing us to speculate on how Jane might have appeared had she lived into the dawn of photography. As for Aubrey and Maturin, their series begins with the novel, “Master and Commander”, and you may find it useful to consult one of the companion volumes that have been published in recent decades to assist readers in understanding the background to O’Brian’s stories. One such book that I’ve found helpful is, “Harbors and High Seas: An Atlas and Geographical Guide to the Complete Aubrey-Maturin Novels of Patrick O’Brian”, by Dean King with John B. Hattendorf.
I’m writing to you from Kingston, Ontario, which was the home port for the small fleet of Royal Navy vessels sailing on Lake Ontario during the War of 1812. I sometimes wish O’Brian had involved Aubrey and Maturin in some Canadian adventures during their careers at sea, but alas, they only drop anchor briefly in Halifax in the series’ seventh novel, “The Surgeon’s Mate”. In any case, good luck with Patrick O’Brian and, as Captain “Lucky Jack” Aubrey would say, “I give you joy" of reading his wonderful novels for the first time.
I'll be happy to respond to your comment as soon as I'm free, but right now it's still Monday morning on the other side of the storm-tossed North Atlantic and I'm awaiting an important phone call.
The Weather in the Streets, by Rosamund Lehmann. About rejection or not finding the right person; also friendship, family, class.
I’ve never heard of this but it looks so good. Interesting examination of romance tropes too potentially?
Definitely
I'm going to order a couple or two of these. 😊 Tomorrow x3, the one by July
Amazing! Let me know how you find them.